Partial status epilepticus associated with asomatognosia and private alienhand-like behaviors

Background: Paroxysmal alien hand syndrome (AHS) has been reported in assoc iation with ictal phenomena, but simultaneous electroencephalographic verif ication has not been made. Observation: A 61-year-old woman with a right hemisphere glioblastoma multi forme developed movements of the left hand that she claimed were not under her control, and she denied ownership of the affected limb. Simultaneous el ectroencephalograms documented continuous spikes in the right frontotempora l region. Intravenous diazepam therapy (2.5 mg) reversed both the abnormal movements and the spike activity on the electroencephalograms. Conclusions: Our case demonstrates that partial seizures can produce AWS al ong with asomatognosia. This variety of AHS appears to be different, both e tiologically and phenomenologically, from other forms of AHS.